How do I decide/know - town or country?

[Sticki]

We are relocating back the UK in the summer. Our circumstances have changed since we have been away and we are going to move to a new area.

I am struggling to know if we should live in a town with a smaller house and garden but be able to choose to walk to shops/school/station etc or get more space and green by living in the countryside but have to drive everywhere.

We currently live in Europe on the edge of the city (easy access to centre - museums/shops etc) and I can walk to school/kindergarten/shops (albeit a huge hill and 20 mins away so sometimes I drive). We have 3 dcs (6,2,1) so I will have many years of the school run left and Im wary of spending my whole time in the car. It is very green here, we can access country parks/activities very easily by car (or some walking). We love outdoorsy stuff (walking, biking etc) and spend alot of time in the garden in the summer. But we also like being able to go to a cafe for a coffee and cake and meet up with friends.

Any advice?
Thanks

Hmmm, I think you've answered your own question!

Sounds as though the depths of the country would be the worst thing for you. Much better all round to be on the verges of a smallish country town with the associated benefits.

You could always move further out in a few years, if you wanted.

If you don't need to be in any particular area, can I recomend the North. I'm in the NE (county durham). Its 2 mins in the car onto the A19, which takes me 30 mins to the centre of Newcastle, 15 mins to the centre of Durham and about the same to Sunderland. I live in a village, my house is surrounded by countryside, there are lovely walks and plenty of local amenities in walking distance. There are excellent transport links too.

And you get a lot for your money. I bought my house (large 4 bed with a big garden) before the crash for 195k. The house behind mine sold recently for 125k!

I would say I live in an average area, you can spend more and there are some very special places up here!

My village has a starbucks too

I also use the Starbucks/Costa/Nero test too

I am in Surrey (not cheapest part of country to be sure) where there are lots of towns with a semi-rural feel and very close to proper rural countryside but still walkable to a high st with coffee shops, supermarket etc.

This is the optimum configuration for me at this point with young kids (born and grew up in central London and lived in big cities prior to kids)

I wish I knew. I am struggling with the same problem [marks place]

Sounds like you want a market town. This would give you both the countryside / space /walks etc but also enable you to go to the high street for a coffee. Sounds like you could also do with one not too far from a bigger town / city for cultural events.

Best of both worlds

Thanks for your posts everyone.

Good idea about the Nero/Costa etc test! I have missed them while overseas so would be great to be close.

Oreo - I would love to be in the NE but sadly we have to be within commutable distance from London.

I agree a market town/country town would be a good idea if we can find one commutable to London. I havent been back to the UK for so long that I cant quite remember what it is like! I have a trip planned in 10 days so I can re-educate my idea that it is all suburbs and not any countryside left.

In the meantime will do some streetview tests to see Costa/Starbucks etc

I am spending a rediculous amount of time on Rightmove - need to attend to sick DCs now!